Which GM engine to get??

Hi folks,i am shopping for a used full-size van, and narrowed down my choices to a GMC Savana. I am looking at model year 2001-2004 and they come with many different engine configurations, 4.8, 5.0, 5.7, 6.0... Now i am not familiar with the different types, are there some known to be better than others and such? I don't need extra towing capacity, just a reliable engine that doesn't cost more than i need to fill up. I am usually carrying 1 or 2 motorcycles and some gear, but never more than 1,200 lbs total + 2 passengers. So where is a good place to find out about GM's 1500, 2500, 3500 vans and engines? Thanks for your help

Now the 6.0 may have 320 hp and 365 lbs-tq, becuase GM made two different 6.0s with the same RPO code (LQ4). The Denali GMC vehicles got the 320 horse version, and the vans very well may have it, not sure though.

Now the other engines:

-5.0= 230 hp, around 300 lbs-tq (can't think of how much torque they had off the top of my head)-5.7= 255 hp, 335 lbs-tq. This is a version of the famous 350 small block chevy BTW, a very solid engine.

I wouldn't get one with a 5.0 (305) if I were you becuase they typically got worse gas mileage then the 350s, and didn't have nowhere near the power the 350 has.

You won't tell much difference in power from the 350 to the 4.8. If anything, the 350 will fill stouter. Now if you want the runner of the bunch, get the 6.0. They have tons of power but your fuel mileage will suffer.

I would say the 4.8 will meet your needs, but if you ever decide to tow anything, you'll wish you had the 5.7 or especially the 6.0.
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I used to own (a while ago) a 1984 Chevy Van with the 5.7L is that the same 350 nowadays?? hoping for a little better on the gas fill. But it was strong, and never failed on me. God knows how many years this thing would have kept running if it wasn't for the bodywork being eaten up by salt/corrosion

And no, the 350 that would be in the van you're thinking of getting is actually pretty modern, lol. The one in your 84 Van was a 1st gen block design with a carburetor. The one I listed before is a 2nd gen block (which is very similar to a 1st gen actually), however, it has much better heads and is mult-port fuel injected. There's of course alot of other differences but you get the idea, lol.

About fuel mileage, none will probably be great simply becuase they'll be lugging around a big heavy van, but the Vortec 350 will suprise ya on gas mileage. I know in the 96-99 C/K trucks, they would get 20 mpg+ if driven right.

Keep us updated on what engine you decide upon. The best thing I can suggest for you to do is just try and test drive each of them (I realize this will be hard to do becuase you're shopping for a pre-owned Van) and see which you prefer. However, I would def. recommend for you to stay away from the 5.0 (305).

For me personally, it'd be hard to pass up a low mileage Vortec 350, simply becaust its a 350 and they are the work horse of Chevrolet engines (not to mention they have very respectable power even by todays standards). But I have driven a vehicle (2002 2500HD Silverado) with the Vortec 6.0, and it is one powerful engine. Plus, it and the 4.8 are the newer of the two, but I don't think you'd go wrong if you do decide on the Vortec 5.7L.
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I saw a 2002 1500 model for a very good price, 1/2 ton but like i said i don't really need big towing capacity. That one has the 4.3 Vortec engine. I owned a GMC Safari that had the Vortec 4.3, but it was a 1988 model, so can you tell me about this one?

Just to add in on the reliability of our vans since we have owned many Chevy vans because of our business. Pertaining to the current vehicles we had were the 2000 Express 3500 with the 5.7L and the only problem we had was with the power steering, kept failing. We recently bought a new 05 Express with the 6.0 and honestly there doesn't seem much of a difference in power and the newer ones removed a few items in the work vans, like less interior lighting and no rear speakers, but for the most part it felt and ran the same. And our W4500 has the 5.7 liter motor as well, only problem we had with it was durring the really rainy season one of the exhuast manifolds cracked. Other than that, no problems with anything that was GM built.

They stopped making the 4.3 I believe. All the old vehicles that used it are no more(Astro, Blazer, S-10) Plus the reason they aren't using it is b/c it doesn't get that great of gas mialage. What they really need to put in there is the 4200 I-6. Then it would pretty much dominate the segment, however the styling would still hurt it a bit.

Oops. I thought 4300? As long as there is a 6 cyll engine, I think it would be a better alternative engine choice for this truck, giving the consumer more choice in the matter. From a size POV, the ranger and colorado/canyon are true compact pickups. The tacoma, frontier, and dakota seem to be...mid-size? I guess the vortech 3500 is an adequate choice for this truck. It seemed fine when I drove it.
"If one does not fail at times, then one has not challenged himself" Ferdinand Porsche

Well the Vortec 4.3 is still offered in the Silverado/Sierra. It has 200 HP in those rigs and they are actually pretty strong just as long as they are 2WD and regular cabs, lol. They will suprise ya anyways!

But either way, if GM did start offering the 4.3, then the media would have a field day with them because of it, even though (and I would garuntee this) Colorado sales would increase simply becuase everybody that's ever owned a 4.3 in an S-10 or S-10 Blazer has loved it (which still puzzles me as to where the media "gets" their info on the 4.3 being junk). What GM needs to do with the mid-sizers is just slap in the 4.8L Vortec V-8. That would allow it to really dominate the segment: 285 hp, 295 lbs-tq. The reason the Vortec 4200 is not used now is becuase its jsut too long to fit in the engine bay with the way its set up now.

And Jim, the 305 was produced all the way up to 98 in the C/K trucks (maybe even 2000 becuase back then, GM offered the 305 in the C/K 3/4-ton trucks). It actually had more hp then the pre-96 350s, but it didnt feel nowhere near as strong.
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Yeah, but the firewall and radiator is set up different I think. The 4200 won't fit in the Silverado's either, and you know they are bigger then the TBs. I think it also has somethign to do with crumple zones or something.
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